87R1167 JAM-F
By: Reynolds H.B. No. 896
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 382, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 382.051965 to read as follows:
Sec. 382.051965. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
FOR OIL AND GAS FACILITIES. (a) A permit by rule or a standard
permit relating to a facility described by Section 382.051961(a)
must require:
(1) the permit holder of a new facility or an existing
facility that has been modified to establish a quarterly inspection
and maintenance program for the detection and repair of leaks from
all valves, pump seals, flanges, compressor seals, pressure relief
valves, open-ended lines, tanks, and other process and operation
components of the facility that could result in fugitive emissions;
(2) for a new facility, a prohibition on the use of
venting and limitations on the use of flaring;
(3) for an existing facility that has been modified,
the elimination of the use of venting and a reduction in the use of
flaring;
(4) limitations on emissions of volatile organic
compounds from storage tanks that have the potential to emit more
than one ton of volatile organic compounds per year;
(5) limitations on emissions of nitrogen oxides from
compressor engines with more than 100 horsepower;
(6) maintenance protocols and best practices for
compressor stations; and
(7) the use and maintenance of no-bleed and low-bleed
pneumatic devices and controllers between a wellhead and a natural
gas processing plant and the monitoring of emissions from those
devices.
(b) A program described by Subsection (a)(1) must require
the use of leak detection equipment such as optical gas imaging
cameras.
(c) In adopting rules to implement this section, the
commission may consider:
(1) applying different standards to new facilities and
facilities that have been modified; and
(2) using incentives to encourage the use of best
practices at facilities subject to this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than June 1, 2022, the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement Section 382.051965, Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.